Rotorua's Essential 50: Day 9 - Wingspan

Reporter Alison King with Millie, a New Zealand falcon, at Wingspan. Photo/Supplied.

Where else can you get so close to a New Zealand falcon you can feel its talons? Wingspan was a popular nomination for our Essential 50 so it seemed like a good idea to go for a visit.

Nestled in Paradise Valley the National Bird of Prey Centre is where you can learn about one of New Zealand's most threatened species, see them in full flight and help keep the species alive.

Time your visit right and you will see an hour-long flight show featuring a male and female karearea, though not together as they are territorial.

The birds are trained but what they do when they're outside is anyone's guess, said executive director and falconer Debbie Stewart as she brought out Ozzy. Ozzy is a 9-year-old male and next year virtually every New Zealander will see him as part of their daily lives - he will feature on the new $20 note.

Our visit was interrupted by two Australasian harrier hawks circling at the top of the treeline, which Ozzy fended off as visitors watched.

"These birds are free, no strings attached. I don't know what's going to happen either," Ms Stewart told the visitors.

"They may chase things and that's normal behaviour."

Wingspan has a museum and an aviary for visitors to wander around. Inside the aviaries are morepork, Tahi - an Australasian barn owl - karearea (the NZ falcon) and Australasian harrier hawks.

"Rotorua people forget how significant Rotorua is to significant conservation programmes throughout New Zealand," Ms Stewart said.

"We have karearea, kiwi, kokako. We're all about being kaitiaki [guardians]. We can be proud of that without question. We're proud to be Rotorua-based and we still get people discovering us for the first time. We're not a tourist attraction but an active conservation programme that people can visit."

She said 32,000 children had held karearea over the 21 years Wingspan had been open.

"We try to let everyone who wants to have a hold, have a hold. They're not going to forget that."

The Rotorua Daily Post Essential 50 lists the city's must-see, must-do and must-try activities and experiences thanks to reader nominations. We'll be highlighting one every day over summer.